Think Globally, Act Locally: Liberal Arts Education at Kumamoto University
One of the first liberal arts education courses undergraduate students take at KU is “Higo Kumamoto Studies.” In Higo Kumamoto Studies, students choose to study one of six themes related to Kumamoto, including history, culture, society, nature, environment, and life. Through in-depth study provided in-class by experts in each area, they can acquire a more universal perspective and academic way of thinking. In addition, abundant resources are available online to allow students to learn about a wide range of topics outside the theme they choose.
Minamata disease is one of the topics most characteristic of Higo Kumamoto studies. The disease was recently brought back into the spotlight with the release of MINAMATA, a film about the struggles of American photojournalist W. Eugene Smith. It begins with the caption “based on true events,” but no director of any renown can tell the entire story of those who have suffered from Minamata disease from the 1950s to the present in a 115-minute film. Below are two of the Minamata-related online materials used by KU students. We hope you also learn about the true story behind the film, as well as other Higo Kumamoto Studies courses you can take at KU.
